Beginning Tuesday, students were able to use credit or debit cards at the campus eateries in Cate ala Carte. Credit card machines were installed earlier this week enabling card payment at Taco Mayo, Block & Barrel, Roscoe's, Cinnabon and the all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant.
According to the Housing and Food Services Web site, Couch Restaurants and Couch Express are also scheduled to upgrade to this new service.
Xcetera and the restaurants in Adams Center already had credit card machines.
There are only two credit card machines in Cate ala Carte, one at Block & Barrel and one at Taco Mayo. The other restaurants can use the machines for purchases as well.
Food Services installed the limited number because of the expense of adding the machines, said Arthur Drain, manager of Cate ala Carte .
The machines cost between $600 and $800 plus the monthly cost of the phone lines, Drain said.
Meal plans provide about 99 percent of Cate ala Carte's business, Drain said.
"It's just kind of an added convenience," Drain said.
The Daily's report about the use of credit cards on campus in an Oct. 13 article also influenced Food Services to add the machines, he said.
Drain said he expects some students to take advantage of using plastic, but most customers will still use meal points or meal exchanges.
Andrea Barnes, University College freshman, said she uses her meal plan in Cate ala Carte. She said she would probably only use her debit card to pay for food there next year.
Usually about two or three customers a week asked to pay with a credit card at Cinnabon, said Jason Chance, a Cinnabon worker.
One customer paid with a credit card today, he said.
Amanda Howard, sociology junior, said she will use the credit card machines at Cate ala Carte.
"That's usually why I go to the union instead, because I never have cash on me," she said.
Stuart Hash, University College freshman, plans on using his debit card in the future because Cate ala Carte doesn't have ATMs for his bank.
Hash said he is already running out of meal points on his meal plan, so he expects to use his debit card at Cate ala Carte soon.
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